Slides from my show and tell talk on visualising physiological data in my wearable technology work, at Quantified Self Europe 2013 conference, Amsterdam.

1. Visualising Physiological Data
Quantified Self Europe 2013
Rain Ashford - http://rainycatz.wordpress.com

2. Hello!
Image: Rain Ashford

3. The convergence and miniturisation of computing and communications tech means
we’ll all be wearing our phones soon!
Image: Pinterest
Possibly a little more discreetly!

4. The miniaturisation of technology has changed how people build & use wearable tech &
electronics; they’re no longer comprised of cold, bulky sharp, boxy or ugly components that
you might prefer to remain hidden
Image: Steve Mann

5. ..but until fairly recently wearable technology was heavy, angular, clunky or other wordly!
Wearable Wireless Webcam, Steve Man, 1994
Person with a head-mounted display (HMD), wired glove and joystick. Image: NASA
MannGlass Welding HelmetPhillips SKIN ‘Bubble’ dress

6. Beam me up Scotty…
..Sci-Fi has a lot to answer for!
Images: Jean-Luc Picard as Borg Locutus by El Carlos / TriViso
HMD 2012 image by Rain Ashford
Images: Star Trek Tricorder & Peter Jansen’s Tricorder Project Mk2, Lt Uhura Paramount Pictures, Jawbone headset uncredited image

7. But there’s no escaping that wearable tech was influenced by cyborgs & their
friends!
Images: Robocop DVD cover, pic by Plamdi, BSG motivational poster by thegreatgeekmanual
RobotWearableCop Venn diagram, derivitive repurposed by Rain Ashford, original by GraphJam, Robocop
Minis pic by infelix

8. There is also a fear of technology, machines, cyborgs, robots, etc.
“Let’s just hope that they all don’t show up at once.“ Anon
Image: unknown author / popular culture

9. I’m an avid self-tracker and fan of
sensors!
Images: Rain Ashford

10. I use all sorts of sensors…
EEG (Electroencephalography), GSR (Galvanic Skin Response), magnometer, temperature,
proximity, light, movement, barometric (temp, altitude, pressure)
Images: Sensors: Seeed Studio & Sparkfun, MindWave Mobile, Rain Ashford

11. I use sensors and other electronics to create interactive wearables and art
Images:RainAshford

12. Soldering whilst wearing Necomimi brainwave cat ears
I’m interested in…
 Social interaction – formal and informal
events where one is put on the spot/
excruciating circumstances: networking,
bars, clubs, meet ups, introductions,
conferences, etc.
Building multi-sensor wearables which
output data on the wearer’s physiological
signs comprised of various components
such as:
 a logging device
 sensors – tracking physiological signs:
EEG, GSR, heart rate, accelerometer,
temperature, etc.
 Actuators
 C code / algorithms
To be…
 Visually reactive
 Sonically reactive
 Might record sound / display feedback
from user
 camera
Images: Rain Ashford

13. For me, the availability of sewable electronic & e-textiles has revolutionised the way I and
many artists & designers work…
Images: LilyPad Arduino + accessories, Adafruit Flora pics by Rain Ashford,
LilyPad Dev kit by Protosnap, Sensors: Seeed Studio & Sparkfun

14. …I enjoy incorporating the technology
into the design
Images: Rain Ashford

15. Hacking existing tech, such as Eric Boyd’s Heart Spark & combining with my own ideas and
components has allowed me to make pieces such as ‘You Make My <3 Flutter’: a proximity
detecting, heart rate sensing ‘techlace’
Images: Rain Ashford

16. Images: Rain Ashford
I’ve hacked the Heart Spark and added another heart shaped pendant that I’ve made which
Includes a proximity detector to switch on the pulsing LEDs from my heart rate

17. Images: Rain Ashford
I have plans for to expand this piece into a speed dating device to collect and combine
quantitative data via temperature and posture to record and show how people’s physiological
reactions differ from qualitative responses

18. Yr In Mah Face’ is temperature /mood sensing t-shirt - uses Celsius temperature data
from a sensor, averages it, then visualises the results via LEDs.
Images: Rain Ashford

19. ‘Yr In Mah Face’: uses an algorithm to decide and display the wearers temperature – cool
calm and collected or hot and bothered!
Images: Rain Ashford

20. Baroesque Barometric Skirt
Images: Rain Ashford

21. Baroesque Barometric Skirt
Sensors:
Images: Rain Ashford
 Pressure
 Altitude
 Environment temp
 My temp
°C (Celcius), Pa (Pascal) and m (meter)

22. Images: Rain Ashford
Displays environmental & physiological data °C
(Celcius), Pa (Pascal) and m (meter)
Baroesque Barometric Skirt

23. Necomimi brainwave cat ears
..practicing manipulating concentration / meditation
Images: Rain Ashford

24. NeuroSky Mindwave Mobile headset
Images: Rain Ashford

25. EEG bar-graph prototyping
Images: Rain Ashford

26. EEG LED matrix prototyping
Images: Rain Ashford

27. EEG LED matrix prototyping
Images: Rain Ashford

28. Future uses for visualising data on the body
 Subtle notifications
 Not so subtle notifications!
Including: Light, Visuals, Sound, Movement
For:
 Medical
 Communications
 Industrial
 Art
 Fashion
 Performance
 Sport
 Military
 Lifestyle
Image: Rain Ashford

29. Challenges
 Standards & classifications
 Interoperability
 Sustainability
 Security of data
 Battery / power
 Washability
 Marketing focus
 User Experience
Image: Rain Ashford

30. Thank you for your attention!
@Rainycat
http://rainycatz.wordpress.com
Rain Ashford 2013